Chapter 41
Chapter
Forty-One
Theo crouched in the shadows just off the main trail, heart pounding as he watched Kai trudge uphill.He set off behind him, keeping his distance. He took care to duck behind the occasional trunk or thick brush. Kai scrambled up a narrow slope that led to the top of the tallest cliff that acted as the course’s final checkpoint.
When he reached a cluster of rocks near the summit, he stopped and craned his neck to see Kai. His worst fears came true. Kai was crouched near the ropes. A small toolkit lay open by his knee, revealing wire cutters, a short blade, and an assortment of spare metal parts.
Lifting his phone, Theo started recording. He zoomed in on Kai’s hands carefully slicing part of a rope. His hands moved with precise, almost surgical motions as he loosened several critical anchor bolts. Theo’s anger burned, but he forced himself to stay still.
He’d seen enough. He stopped recording and tried to send the video to Poppy. A spinning icon mocked him. He checked his signal and saw no service. He gritted his teeth.
The climbers would soon arrive. This was too dangerous. He could not remain silent any longer. Switching his phone’s camera on again, he propped it on a stable rock to capture the view of the summit. Then he stood and stepped out.
“Kai,” he said, voice echoing in the thin air, “stop what you’re doing. You’ve messed with enough gear. I’m not letting you hurt anyone else.”
Kai spun around, eyes wide. Then a mocking smile curved his lips. “Theo. I was just double checking the gear for the charity climb.” He let out a laugh that made Theo’s fists curl.
“You’re lying. I saw you. You cut ropes, loosened bolts—you’re the reason the academy’s in trouble.”
Kai shrugged and stood. “And who do you think they’ll believe? The wild bear who lost control in a city park and is wanted by the police, or me?” He gestured around them. “I could say I found you in the middle of sabotage.”
Theo fought the urge to shift. He steadied his breathing, reminding himself there was a camera rolling behind him. “You won’t get away with it.”
Kai glanced over the ledge. “Tell that to the cops. They’re looking for you, not me. Better get out of here before they show up.” He smirked and secured a harness around his waist.
Theo took a step closer. “Why are you putting people’s lives at stake?”
Kai checked his harness with the casual air of confidence. “I’m done here.” He flicked his rope over the edge, grabbed it with a practiced hand, and turned to flash Theo a final grin. “I suggest you run, friend.”
With that, Kai settled his weight onto the rope and began rappelling down the cliff face, vanishing bit by bit from Theo’s view. The faint clink of metal echoed up the mountain, then faded away. Theo stood there, seething. But the phone he had propped against a rock was still recording. His chest felt tight. He glanced at the sabotaged lines, wishing he had tools to fix them. He had to do something to protect everyone coming up the mountain.